How To Drink Through a Fire Hose

Learning how to code is hard. It is literally learning a new language. HTML and CSS were easy, but I am struggling with JavaScript. I feel very strongly about completing a project in JS for my portfolio before moving on to PHP.

I’ve met a good handful of folks who turn up their nose at PHP. Apparently, it’s an ugly, unoptimized language. But, I want to learn it because I plan on working with a lot of CMSs. My short-to-mid-range goal is to build websites for small businesses that either don’t have the time or skills to build one themselves, but would be capable of updating and managing it once built. The world of CMS runs on PHP.

In the present, I am currently assisting on an update and remodel a charity website on WordPress. I am using the Visual Editor plug-in – which while not code, is still a bear to learn to navigate.

*Please note that I did not build the theme/template.

Here’s what I’ve learned:

Visual editors are nice, but it’s still not as flexible as code. If you know what you are doing with code, possibilities are much less restrictive.

Mostly, where things are on WordPress to change them.

How to embed a Google Map.

The importance of site maps.

How to maintain a relationship with a client.

I really enjoy having this project. I am incredibly grateful to the CEO, Elizabeth Bannon, for giving me the chance to work on it and become familiar with an actual WordPress site instead of just playing with a localhost mock-server. Please visit 🙂

About K. MacLeod

Kelly MacLeod is an administrative assistant looking to hop into a web development career. Admin life is nice, but having already reached her earning potential way before the age of 30, it is time to look for greener pastures.